Background

UN Women, grounded in the vision of equality enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, works for the elimination of discrimination against women and girls; the empowerment of women; and the achievement of equality between women and men as partners and beneficiaries of development, human rights, humanitarian action and peace and security. Placing women’s rights at the center of all its efforts, the UN Women leads and coordinates the United Nations system efforts to ensure that commitments on gender equality and gender mainstreaming translate into action throughout the world. It provides strong and coherent leadership in support of Member States’ priorities and efforts, building effective partnerships with civil society and other relevant actors.

UN Women’s triple mandate, along with its global network and deep policy and programming expertise, continues to endow the Entity with a unique capacity to: (i) support Member States to strengthen global norms and standards for gender equality and women’s empowerment, and mainstream gender perspectives in other thematic areas; (ii) promote coordination and coherence across the UN system to enhance accountability and results for gender equality and women’s empowerment; and (iii) undertake operational activities to support Member States, upon their request, in translating global norms and standards into legislation, policies and strategies at country level.

UN Women plays an innovative and catalytic role in the State of Palestine since its inception in 1997 (as UNIFEM). In line with the national priorities, the work of UN Women for the period 2023-2025 is aligned with three of the Palestine United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework’s (UNSDCF 2023-2025) outcomes:

•            Palestinians have greater access to economic opportunities that are inclusive, resilient, and sustainable, including decent employment and livelihoods opportunities in an empowered private sector.

•            Palestinians, including the most vulnerable, have equal access to sustainable, inclusive, gender responsive and quality social services, social protection, and affordable utilities.

•            Palestinian governance institutions, processes, and mechanisms at all levels are more democratic, rights-based, inclusive, and accountable.

Its 2023-2025 Strategic Note supports the efforts to achieve measurable results in country in terms of four UN Women global Strategic Plan impacts (2022-2025): (SP Impact 1). Governance and participation in public life; (SP Impact 2). Women’s Economic Empowerment; (SP Impact 3). Ending Violence Against Women and Girls and SP Impact 4. Women peace and security, Humanitarian & Disaster Risk Reduction.

To achieve the above results, UN Women intends to use its triple mandate with innovative approaches and strategic partnerships in project implementation, coordination, monitoring and evaluation, data collection and knowledge management, communication, and advocacy.

In the current context of acute security crisis in OPT, the role of the UN Women Security Consultant  is crucial for several reasons:

1. With the continuation of Gaza conflicts and increased security threats and risks in Jerusalem, West Bank, and Gaza, along with the rise in humanitarian response activities, cases of displacement, threats to women and girls, criminal activities, clashes between armed gangs, and widespread insecurity, ensuring the protection and safety of UN Women personnel working in the field is paramount. The Security Consultant is responsible for advising on and implementing preventive measures, emergency procedures, and alert systems to safeguard staff and ensure operational continuity.

2. Ensuring continuity of operations: In such a volatile environment, UN Women's ability to carry out its programs for women's rights depends on their security. The Security Consultant assesses risks and develops plans to ensure activities can continue as much as possible.

3. Ensuring security during movements: Field missions represent a major challenge currently, whether for delivering humanitarian aid or monitoring projects. The expertise of the Security and Consultant is indispensable for securing these movements in high-risk areas.

4. Working in coordination: Effective security management requires close collaboration with authorities, law enforcement, other UN agencies, and humanitarian partners on the ground.

The Security Consultant plays a very important role in directly supporting the UN Women Country Representative by providing technical expertise and offering informed advice to the Country Representative to adjust operations and proactively manage risks to ensure the safety and effectiveness of UN Women's operations in occupied Palestinian territory (OPT) . Reporting hierarchically to the Global Security Advisor HQ via the Regional Security Specialist, the Security Consultant will corroborate and work side by side with the Operations Manager and the Head of Sub Office(s) and the incumbent contributes to the overall security and well-being of UN Women personnel and partners in OPT.   

Duties and Responsibilities

1. Provide technical support, guidance, and advice to the Country Office:

• Provide timely and accurate security advice and coordination to the Country Office, and follow up on approvals with the relevant parties including UNDSS, Access Support Unit (ASU) and the host governments.
• Clarify, interpret, and implement existing UN and UN Women security policy as applicable.
• Oversee security evaluations and provide advice on security and safety measures for the residences (Residential Security Measures -RSM) of UN Women personnel, as well as on the latest trends, threats and risks to personnel safety and security.
• Track developing threats and related risks, reviewing the impact of security and safety factors and risks to UN Women personnel, premises, assets, programme design and delivery.
• Provide recommendations regarding effective risk prevention and mitigation measures, including specific UN Women support needs.
• Capacity build UN Women Local Security Assistant through assessment of needs, continuous education, training, shadowing, and guidance.

        2.  Oversee security assessments and take necessary action:

• Oversee substantive assessment of the security and safety situation in the area of responsibility and ensure adequate collation and verification of security information. The incumbent is required to travel to Gaza , West Bank. 
• Conduct security assessments of UN Women premises, operations and equipment and provide recommendations on risk management.

       3. Liaise with and participate in the local security community and other AFPs, INGOs, Embassies:

• Maintain close liaison with the UN Women Regional/Deputy Regional Security Specialist.
• Actively participate in UNSMS Security Cell, SMT and ASMT meetings as needed.
• Liaise and coordinate with UNDSS, ASU and the host government security and safety organizations and/or personnel, including national and local provincial authorities, military, police officers, fire service as well as non-governmental organizations, UN entities, and other non-State actors.
• Participate as a member of security and safety groups, particularly Inter-Agency Security Management Network Working Groups as directed by the UN Women Global Security Adviser.
• Provide an advisory presence to the UN Women Representative and management team, at UN security management meetings such as the country Security Management Team (SMT), United Nations Country Team (UNCT), and Operations Management Team (OMT).
• Maintain a security and safety network of international and national security personnel.

        4.  Collect, update, and communicate security information:

• Provide updates and information to HQ in relation to the security and safety intranet portal and documentation.
• Disseminate security and safety information and measures to personnel.
• Disseminate analytical products and outputs to stakeholders.
• Conduct regular communications with the UN Women Security & Safety Services Team.
• Establish a UN Women Warden System/Communication Tree as required.
• Establish UN Women Security Communication System (Everbridge and others)

       5.  Develop, maintain, manage, and implement the UN Women Security Plan, including updating personnel lists:

• Oversee the development, implementation, and maintenance of the UN Women Palestine Security Plan in accordance with the SMT Approved UNSMS Country Security Plan.
• Manage the preparation and review of the UN Security Plan and provide technical support in its development and implementation.
• Provide advice, recommendations and where necessary specifications in the selection and purchasing of security equipment.
• Coordinate with relevant stakeholders on the entry of critical humanitarian items into Israel and Gaza Strip.
• Prepare and submit security clearance/movement coordination of personnel requests.
• Maintain, coordinate, and implement the UN Women Warden System.
• Identify and update information related to UN Women offices and residences in OPT , including input to the UN Women Global Premises Directory.

        6. Monitor, manage and implement UN Women compliance of the Security Risk Management Measures (SRMM) established for the duty station:

• Compile data required for the SRMM Self-Assessment of the UN Women Security and Safety Compliance Business Process.
• Provide technical support to and advise the UN Women Operations Manager in the completion and updating of the UN Women SSCS, SSCAP, and SSCEF compliance tools.
• Implement SRMM for UN Women personnel, premises, assets, systems and protocols, in accordance with organizational risk acceptance, ensuring the mainstreaming of security is applied in all programmatic planning platforms.
• Provide UN Women managers with prescriptive content such as policy, risk management methodology, SRMM and RSM.
• Provide technical support to security compliance input of all UN Women offices within area of responsibility.
• Provide technical support to the Programme team in completing and submitting the UN Women online Programme Assessment format.

       7. Report security incidents affecting UN Women personnel, programmes, offices, and assets:

• Collate information and provide inputs to security reports, such as the Security & Safety Incident Recording System (SSIRS), Security Risk Management (SRM) Assessments and other ad-hoc incident reports.
• Oversee security evaluations and surveys of all Country and Sub Offices.
• Develop accurate and timely written country briefings; add inputs to position papers from a field perspective as required.
• Provide information to the country UN Security Management System (UNSMS) as required.

        8.  Develop and conduct country specific security & safety education and training courses:

• Participate in the development and delivery of UNSMS training where possible.
• Develop UN Women-specific security training based on established needs and conduct security and safety training aligned to corporate requirements.
• Provide security and safety orientation and briefings to newly assigned personnel.
• Provide security and safety mainstreaming sessions as required.
• Provide security and safety awareness sessions as required.
• Provide Business Continuity and Crisis Management training sessions as required.
• Fully rollout Business County and Crisis Management Application (BCCMA).
• Coordinate with HQ Security & Safety Services Team with regard education and training needs, products and corporate initiatives.

        9. Perform other security-related tasks, including but not limited to:

• Provide Air Travel Focal Point services to UN Women as per CATSU requirements.
• Maintain liaison with commercial companies used for UN Women security at offices and residences, in order to ensure the effective and efficient use of the guard force services in line with established or developed terms of reference.
• Ensure 100% compliance with completion of the UN Women Security and Safety Compliance Survey, Action Plan, and Enhancement Funding needs.
• Ensure 100% compliance with the UN Women Business County and Crisis Management Application (BCCMA).
• Active participation at all UNSMS Security Cell meetings.
• Deliver SMT talking points for the Country Representative prior to the meeting and provide updates on the Security Cell discissions.
• Complete a review of physical security arrangements at UN Women office locations in operational areas.
• Prepare movement plan for field missions for UN Women personnel.
• Establish proof of life protocol with the CO and regional HR Business Partner for CO based and visiting personnel.
• Develop a quick reference guide for the HIM scenario for the Country Office aligned to the UNSMS HIM Policy and Guidelines.

       10. The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.

Competencies

Core Values:

• Integrity;
• Professionalism;
• Respect for Diversity.

Core Competencies:

• Awareness and Sensitivity Regarding Gender Issues;
• Accountability;
• Creative Problem Solving;
• Effective Communication;
• Inclusive Collaboration;
• Stakeholder Engagement;
• Leading by Example.

Please visit this link for more information on UN Women’s Core Values and Competencies:

https://www.unwomen.org/en/about-us/employment/application-process#_Values

Functional Competencies:

• Strong knowledge of business, operations, and programming cycle.
• Strong knowledge of security and safety risk management.
• Strong knowledge of local country’s security situation/ laws.
• Good knowledge of UN System policies and procedures.
• Ability to work under pressure and in crisis situations.
• Strong analytical skills.
• Ability to be strategic and provide advice

Required Skills and Experience